Container support and attachment means

ABSTRACT

A planar rectangular base member has depending flanges on two opposite sides thereof terminating in spaced opposing inturned flanges to embrace a support for the base member, an upstanding continuous flange enclosing the top face of said base member and two spaced concentric upstanding hollow ring members secured to said top face for receiving and supporting annular containers therein, such as paint cans, the outer of said concentric ring members extending above said inner ring member and receiving an annular container to be supported upon the top face of said inner ring member. The invention is intended for detachable mounting upon the folding shelf of the conventional step ladder to securely retain paint cans in place and prevent accidental displacement thereof during painting.

[ 1 Feb. 15, 1972 United States Patent Zeiler, Jr.

W 8 4 2 W 5 MN m m WT A m m mL "P P A MR m0 s T N E m @N wG H R O 9F 2 6 9 3 [54] CONTAINER SUPPORT AND ATTACHMENT MEANS [72] lnventor: Elmer J. Zeiler, Jr., 928 Maplewood DriveCastleShannonPa15234 258,259 12/1926 GreatBritain......................248/346.l

Mar. 12, 1970 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss [22] Filed:

Attorney-Pamelee, Utzler & Welsh [21] Appl.No.:

[57] ABSTRACT A planar rectangular base member has depending flanges on two opposite sides thereof terminating in spaced opposing inturned flanges to embrace a support for the base member, an upstanding continuous flange enclosing the top face of said base member and two spaced concentric upstanding hollow ring members secured to said top face for receiving and supporting annular containers therein, such as paint cans, the

[58] Field of References Cited outer of said concentric ring members extending above said inner ring member and receiving an annular container to be supported upon the top face of said inner ring member. The

UNITED STATES PATENTS 248/350 X invention is intended for detachable mounting upon the folding shelf of the conventional step ladder to securely retain paint cans in place and prevent accidental displacement thereof during painting.

Swift............... ..................248/21O X Pignon...................................248/214 krn 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmwrw 15 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. Elmer J. ZeilerJ'r.

PM, 44 4,. MM Attprneys PATENTEUFEB 15 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 ill/ll/I/l/l/l/ IIIII'IIII m I I m m u m ,n m n II II III! II INVENTOB. Elmer J. Zulerm:

Attorneys CONTAINER SUPPORT AND ATTACHMENT MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to holders for containers such as paint cans and means for detachably mounting said holders upon a step ladder tray or other support.

2. Prior Art One example of the prior art is found in US. Pat. No. 2,982,982 dated May 9, 1961 for Container Support Including Associated Tray Element.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a container support for detachably mounting upon the customary folding tray of the conventional step ladder and with means for attaching the said support to the step ladder tray.

One object of the invention is to provide an integral support of the character described having spaced inturned flanges to embrace the said step ladder shelf to prevent displacement of the tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide two upstanding spaced concentric ring-shaped portions upon the upper transverse face of the tray to receive paint cans of different capacities, said ring-shaped members being of different diameters to accommodate said different capacity containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container support of the character described having peripheral upstanding flanges to retain paint which may have been accidentally discharged over the sides of the containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for clamping the tray upon said step ladder shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a plan view of one form of the invention comprised offormed metal sheets;

FIG. 2 shows a section taken on lines Il-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an alternate form of the invention comprised of an integrally molded plastic material; and

FIG. 4 shows a transverse section taken on lines IV-IV of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The holder of the invention is adapted to be slidably mounted upon the customary pivotally mounted shelf ofa step ladder for the purpose of supporting different sized paint cans during painting ceilings and sidewalls ofa room.

For this purpose, the holder indicated generally as 10, comprises a substantially rectangular base member 11 enclosed by an upstanding peripheral flange 12 the free ends of which may be reinforced by flange 13. Underlying said rectangular base member 11 adjacent two opposite sides thereof and secured thereto are two opposing channel-shaped members 14, each comprised of a vertical wall 140, a top flange 14b and bottom flange 140, which are spaced to slidably embrace between them the said customary pivotally mounted shelf member (not shown) of a conventional step ladder. As best shown in FIG. 1, the top flanges 14b have slotted openings 14d therein and the base member 11, at opposite sides thereof, has an aperture therein for reception of a bolt whose head 15 abuts flange 14b and whose shank 16 extends through slotted openings 14d and receives a wing nut 15 whereby the two members 14 may be slidably adjusted to embrace the sides of the aforesaid conventional pivotally mounted step ladder shelf (not shown).

Mounted upon the top face of member 11 are concentric upstanding circular flanges l7 and 17a having outstanding bottom flanges l8 and 180 respectively, attached to member 11 by suitable means, such as a rivet I7b. As best shown in F IG. 2, the circular flange 17 is of lesser vertical height than circular flange 17a whereby a smaller paint can, such as quart size, can be received within flange I7 and a larger paint can, such as a gallon size, can be received within flange 17a and supported upon flange 17.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, wherein a modified form of the invention is shown, comprising an integral molded form of the invention, any suitable molding material may be employed, which will provide sufficient rigidity in the member for receiving and supporting the paint cans as previously described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the rectangular base member 111 has integrally formed thereon, upstanding annular central flanges 117 and 117a for reception of quart and gallon size or other size paint cans. The base member 111 is enclosed upon its upper face by the integral rectangular upstanding flange ll2 and is defined on two opposite sides thereof by depending integral spaced angular flanges 114 for embracing the sides of the customary pivotally mounted step ladder shelf (not shown).

Iclaim:

1. A container support for detachably mounting upon a customary folding shelf of a conventional step ladder. comprising a rectangular pan-shaped member having a planar bottom wall enclosed by upstanding rigid sidewalls and connecting rigid end walls; a first annular upstanding member fixed upon said pan-shaped member bottom wall and extending above said pan-shaped member sidewalls; a second annular upstanding member of lesser vertical height and diameter mounted upon said pan-shaped member bottom wall within said first annular member and rigidly connected to said bottom wall; the vertical height of said first annular member being such that a container received thereby and resting on said second annular member is stably supported against transverse displacement or tilting by said first annular member; and inturned members connected at two opposite sides of said pan-shaped member and extending downwardly therefrom for receiving a ladder folding shelf therebetween.

2. The container support as defined in claim I wherein at least one of said inturned members has an inturned top flange underlying said rectangular pan-shaped member bottom wall in abutting engagement therewith with a slotted opening formed in said underlying inturned top flange; and means connecting said inturned flange to said planar bottom wall for adjustably clamping said container support to said ladder folding shelf.

3. The container support as defined in claim I, wherein said second annular member is concentrically disposed within said first annular member.

4. A container support of the character described, in combination, a rectangular vertically disposed rigid flange, a rectangular transverse wall integral with the inner faces of the walls of said vertically disposed flange intermediate the vertical height thereof, a first annular vertically disposed flange integral with said transverse wall and extending thereabove, a second annular vertically disposed flange integral with said rectangular transverse wall and enclosing said first annular vertical wall in spaced relation thereto and extending thereabove, each said annular flanges being of a suitable height to restrain a container received therein against transverse displacement or tilting and said container received within said second annular flange being supported upon the top surface of said first-named annular flange, and said firstnamed rectangular vertically disposed flange having upon two opposite sides thereof inturned bottom horizontal flanges for embracing a ladder member providing vertical support for said container support and the container disposed therewithin. 

1. A container support for detachably mounting upon a customary folding shelf of a conventional step ladder, comprising a rectangular pan-shaped member having a planar bottom wall enclosed by upstanding rigid sidewalls and connecting rigid end walls; a first annular upstanding member fixed upon said panshaped member bottom wall and extending above said pan-shaped member sidewalls; a second annular upstanding member of lesser vertical height and diameter mounted upon said pan-shaped member bottom wall within said first annular member and rigidly connected to said bottom wall; the vertical height of said first annular member being such that a container received thereby and resting on said second annular member is stably supported against transverse displacement or tilting by said first annular member; and inturned members connected at two opposite sides of said panshaped member and extending downwardly therefrom for receiving a ladder folding shelf therebetween.
 2. The container support as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said inturned members has an inturned top flange underlying said rectangular pan-shaped member bottom wall in abutting engagement therewith with a slotted opening formed in said underlying inturned top flange; and means connecting said inturned flange to said planar bottom wall for adjustably clamping said container support to said ladder folding shelf.
 3. The container support as defined in claim 1, wherein said second annular member is concentrically disposed within said first annular member.
 4. A container support of the character described, in combination, a rectangular vertically disposed rigid flange, a rectangular transverse wall integral with the inner faces of the walls of said vertically disposed flange intermediate the vertical height thereof, a first annular vertically disposed flange integral with said transverse wall and Extending thereabove, a second annular vertically disposed flange integral with said rectangular transverse wall and enclosing said first annular vertical wall in spaced relation thereto and extending thereabove, each said annular flanges being of a suitable height to restrain a container received therein against transverse displacement or tilting and said container received within said second annular flange being supported upon the top surface of said first-named annular flange, and said first-named rectangular vertically disposed flange having upon two opposite sides thereof inturned bottom horizontal flanges for embracing a ladder member providing vertical support for said container support and the container disposed therewithin. 